Hong Kong buyers fork out A$2.1m at Magic Millions Sale
Hong Kong buyers were prominent at the opening session of the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast in Australia yesterday, outlaying A$2,152,500 for 13 lots including a Danehill colt for A$375,000.
The Danehill youngster, from the Seattle Slew mare Super Selection, was knocked down to Magic Millions as agent, though the Hong Kong Jockey Club was later revealed to be the buyer.
The Jockey Club had a very active day, purchasing three other colts: one by Danehill's second-crop sire son Redoute's Choice for A$240,000; another Danehill (from Target Figure) for A$350,000 and a youngster from Snippets' last crop for A$300,000.
A Jockey Club spokesman said that all four yearlings would remain in Australia to be broken in, educated and prepared for the Hong Kong International Sale in December.
Another prominent Hong Kong buyer was Causeway Bay bloodstock agent Willie Leung, trading through his company Magus Equine Limited. Leung bought five yearlings but clearly his most significant acquisition was the Danehill-Sequenza colt - a brother to the David Hayes-trained Planet Ruler - for A$300,000.
Leung's other buys were all at A$100,000 or less, and were by Perugino, Gilded Time, Spectrum and first-season sire King's Best.
Australian company World Wide Bloodstock signed for two yearlings on behalf of an unnamed Hong Kong client. The first was a colt by Octagonal for A$50,000, and the agent later went to A$85,000 for a youngster by Firebolt's sire, Flying Spur.
Leung Kai-fai, whose Lucky Owners triumphed in the $14 million Hong Kong Mile, signed for two middle-market fillies in the early part of the first session.
The first was by the Green Desert stallion Desert Prince, from former brilliant juvenile filly Sculptures Blue, for A$70,000. Ten lots later, Leung prevailed on a filly by Octagonal from Shand - a very fast mare but lacking in pedigree - for $85,000.
It may be that Leung is laying the foundations of a future Australasian broodmare band to support Lucky Owners when he eventually goes to stud.
Champion trainer Gai Waterhouse put her signature indelibly on the opening session when she paid top price of A$650,000 for a colt by Danehill from Sommes Sound.
The champion Sydney trainer had saddled both Group One winners previously produced by Sommes Sound: Assertive Lad and Assertive Lass.
Second top price of the day was paid by trans-Tasman trainer Graeme Rogerson, who went to A$450,000 for a Flying Spur colt, a three-quarter brother to Not A Single Doubt, the Rogerson-trained favourite for tomorrow's Millions Classic at the Gold Coast.
Wendyll Woods has failed in his appeal against a careless riding suspension, earned when finishing second on Triumphant Master in the final event at Sha Tin on Boxing Day.
Stewards heard Woods' appeal yesterday afternoon and not only dismissed it, but the rider forfeited his deposit to the Race Fund as well. Woods will ride tomorrow at Sha Tin and is then sidelined until February 2.
